The Boats
The original F/V Dolly B circa 1974
Perry ordered the 28′ Hamm from Ernie Hamm out of Homer, Alaska in 1972. He and his sons worked this boat, changing the transom, tunnel and hold over the years. In 1982 Perry ordered a 42′ Ledford and sold the Hamm to his son Tom, who renamed her in favor of his daughter, Melissa.
Together, with Steve and his boat, they fished the waters of Lower Cook Inlet, Alaska for reds (sockeye), silvers (coho) and pink (chum) salmon.
When Perry retired in 1999 he sold the Ledford to Tom and Tom sold the Hamm to his son Thomas. In 2011, Steve’s looking for a new boat and Thomas, unable to fish, turned over the F/V Melissa B to his cousin Nathan, who is Steve’s oldest son. The Buchanan family continues to fish together every chance that they get.
F/V Dolly B sits in the Seward Harbor
Thomas (in the cabin) and Tom (on deck) making repairs to the F/V Melissa B
F/V Dolly B making a set in Resurrection Bay, Alaska